The Moderate Washingtonian

Outlook on politics and elections in the state of Washington from an overall centrist viewpoint. My views tend to be libertarian in nature, but at the same time are largely nonpartisan.

23 October 2006

The hell? P-I endorses Esser for Senate

What sort of flawed reasoning is this?

"We've been at odds with the incumbent 48th District Republican senator's votes and views on a list of issues, including simple majority passage of local school measures, gay rights, stem cell research and a woman's right to choose.

That's a substantial list, and if there were a Democratic challenger in the race we believed brought reasoned ideas and a thoroughly progressive approach, that candidate would get the nod.

But the Democratic candidate, former Republican Rodney Tom, doesn't seem to offer that solidly progressive alternative."


So, since Rodney Tom is, gasp, a centrist and not a left-winger, it's worth supporting somebody who agrees with your editorial board even less? "Nominal Democrat" or not, having Rodney Tom replace Esser in the Senate would do far more for the "working Democratic majority" the P-I editorial board desires than retaining a Republican too socially-conservative for his district. Whatever illicit substance(s) you're on, P-I editorial board, get off it, and fast.

UPDATE:
Oh yeah, today's P-I also shows they want to continue to play nanny on the question of overbearing strip club regulations. Dumbest. Endorsement. Day. Ever.

5 Comments:

At 10:18 PM, Blogger Daniel Kirkdorffer said...

One has to wonder what they are smoking. Back in March they called Tom "one of the most progressive members of the House Republican caucus"!

 
At 7:36 AM, Blogger TMW said...

Well, aside from Fred Jarrett he probably was the most progressive member of the Republican Caucus. However, I guess the P-I realized he'd be one of the more conservative members of the Democratic Caucus. Still, choosing Esser over Tom because he's too moderate is damn stupid. If Tom had significantly lurched to the left after the party switch he likely would have gotten some bad press, so it's almost as if he's screwed either way.

 
At 5:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Er, maybe you got it all wrong. Esser's a moderate. And, I it seems, you're not.

Methinks the Moderate Washingtonian doth protest too much.

 
At 2:37 AM, Blogger TMW said...

Heh, that's a good one. The only thing Esser is moderate on is green issues, otherwise he's a conservative Republican. Rodney Tom is clearly the moderate in this race.

 
At 9:40 AM, Blogger thehim said...

That's infuriating that the PI endorsed Referendum 1. You would think that newspapers would have a firm grasp of why it's important to protect free speech and free expression.

 

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